Device for operating carriage-tops



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. M; WARD.

DEVICE FOR OPERATING UARRIAGE TOPS. No. 372.948. Patented Nov. 8,.1887.

ATTORNEY N. PETERS, PhoEu-Lllhngnphcr, wammmnn. 0.6-.

2 Shets-Sheef 2 No Model.) V v Q v w. M. WARD. I DEVIGFFOR'OPERATINGGARRIAGE TOPS. No. 372,948. Patented Nov. 8, 1887.

V WITNESSE: V i m/vnvnm W 9% r v ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT FFICWILLIAM MARE WARD, OF GRAND BLANO, MICHIGAN.

DEVICE FOR OPERATING CARRIAGE-TOPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 372,948, dated November8, 1887.

I Application filed March 9, 1887. Scn'al No. 230,315. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM Mann WARD, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Grand Blanc, in the county of Genesee and StateofMichigan,haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Devicesfor Raising-and Lowering Carriage-Tops; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,which will enable others skilled in the art to which it ap pertains tomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form part of thisspecification.

My invention relates to a device for raising and loweringcarriage-t0ps,and has for its object to provide a simple, convenient,andinexpensive means by which this result is accomplished by theoccupant of the carriage while sitting in a normal position on the seat,thus obviating, the necessity of either having to alight or be obligedto manipulate the braces at the great inconvenience of reaching out ofthe carriage and causing the braces to break joint first on'one side andthen upon the other in lowering, and in lockingrthe joint when raised.

As is well known, the position of the braces, located as they are atsome distance back of the front bow of the carriage-top, renders itexceedingly difficult of manipulation and requires the occupant toassume a position that is at once awkward and uncomfortable. By the useof my invention these objections are entirely overcome, and the top canbe readily raised or lowered by means of a lever within easy reach ofthe occupant of the carriage, with no inconvenience,and requiring theexercise of but little manual labor.

In the drawings, Figures 1 and 3 are side elevations showing,respectively, the top raised and lowered, the front side being removedto.

show the interior of the carriage. Fig. 2 is a view in elevation,showing the back of the top with the rocking bar and arms, the armsbeing connected to the braces of the carriage-top. Fig. 4 is a detailview showing the mode of fastening the arms to the sliding yokes thatembrace the top braces. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are diagrammatic views ofmodified constructions of the sliding yokes. Fig. 8 is a'perspective ofone of the hangers in which is journaled the rocking bar.

A designates the carriage-box; B, the seat; 0, the top; D and E, thebraces. F is the stud upon which the braces are journaled.

So far I have described the ordinary construction of top carriages ingeneral use.

The preferred way of applying my invention is by means of hangers K,rigidly mounted upon studs F, either by squaring the stud and forming ahanger with a square hole and slipping the hanger upon the studs back ofthe cushion upon which the bows rest when the top is drawn; or this maybe accoruplished by having both round and fastening by a set-screw; oran ordinary spline may be employed, so that the hanger is rigid upon thestud. In the projecting end of hangers K are round holes or bearings 7c,in which is j ournaled a rocking bar, G, having arms H at right anglesthereto.

To the braces E are clamped sliding yokes, of the construction shown ineither Figs. 4, 5, 6, or 7, these modified forms being shown toillustrate some of the various means of attachment that may be employedwithout departing from the spirit of my invention, it being optional ofwhat metal these yokes are constructed, as they may be of brass or iron,or iron lined with brass, copper, or Babbitt metal.

In Fig. 4 the yoke I is made in two parts and held together by means ofscrew or bolt '5. The brace H is slipped onto the bolt or jour nal andheld by means of nut m, it being understood that this shoulder is formedon the inner part oi the bolt or journal against which the arm H rests.

If necessary, washers may be placed between the nut m and arm H.

Fig. 5 shows a form of construction in which the yoke is formed of onepiece. The portion I, that embraces the brace, is placed in position andthe bifurcated journal or bolt is pressed together and the arm placedthereon. In Fig. 6 the construction is simplified, being merely abifurcated yoke, the part I embracing the brace on three sides and beingattached to the arm H, as in the previously-described constructions.

Fig. 7 represents a construction in which the yoke is formed of twoparts held together by being dovetailed, the part I being rigid with thebolt or journal Z, and the part a being held in place by slipping thesame in position after the brace is within. In Fig. 7 is also shown thennt,which is of ordinary construction, employed in holding the brace inposition.

The yoke, after being loosely attached to the brace E-that is, withsufficient looseness to admit of its sliding freely upon the brace without rattling-is attached to arm H. To the rocking bar G, between theseat-rail and the bows of the top, is rigidly attached lever J, being bythis construction within easy reach of the occupant of the carriage.

The operation is as follows: "When it is desired to lower the top, thelever J is grasped and brought from its normally-horizontal position toa vertical one, thereby revolving the rocking bar G and arms H, theyokes sliding freely upon braces E, and the top is easily lowered. Inraising, the operation is reversed, it only being necessary to liningthe lever from a vertical to a horizontal position.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a device for raising and lowering earriage-tops, a right-angledrocking bar journaled in hangers back of the seat, having the two angledportions embracing the braces, and

a lever at right angles with the angled portions, as and for the purposeset forth.

2. In a device for raising and lowering carriage-tops, a rightangledrocking bar journaled in hangers back of the seat, in combinationwithseparable yokes embracing the braces, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a device for raising and lowering earriage-tops, a. separablesliding yoke loosely attached to the carriage-brace, as and for thepurpose set forth.

4. In a device for raising and lowering carriage-tops, a rocking barprovided with arms at each end, said arms being connected movably to thebraces of the carriage-top, and means for rocking said bar, as and forthe purpose set forth.

5. A device for raising and lowering earriage-tops, consisting ofhangers K. rocking bar G, arms II, attached to braces E by slidingconnections, and lever J, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I hereby affix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

'WILLIAH MARE \VARD.

\Vitnesses:

onnrtr THOMSON, G. W. THOMPSON.

